Australia's Allana Slater, who won a women’s team gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, believes that Australia face a battle to retain their team title in Manchester.

“We’re definitely looking to retain the gold in the team event and that’s the main priority,” said Slater on Monday, citing Canada and England as the main threats to Australia’s dominance.

“There are gymnasts from other countries who are a threat in the individuals but England and Canada will be as confident as we are about taking the gold medal in the team competition.

“The whole point of being here is to win, though, and we’re definitely going for gold”.

Slater won silver medals in the individual all-around and floor competitions at the last Games. She is the firm favourite for the individual floor gold medal in Manchester having finished fourth in the event at the 2001 World Championships in Ghent, Belgium.

“I’m very confident I can go one better on an individual basis,” she added. “The floor will be my strongest event and I’ve really lifted my performance on the vault since ’98. I’ve got a good chance on the bars as well.”

Competing in her second Commonwealth Games, Slater, 18, also said that she was enjoying being a senior member of the Australian team.

“I’m enjoying the responsibility of being the older, experienced girl rather than one of the younger, inexperienced ones as was the case in 1998.

“It puts a different perspective on things looking after the younger members of the team and it will make success taste all the sweeter.”